CA Is The Worst Run State!

Katy Grimes: California might have to-die-for weather, but everything else is the Pits.

A recent study was done to find the best and worst run states…and the winner is… Wyoming! The loser is… California.

For the second year, 24/7 Wall St. ranked the 50 states from the best to worst run. They reviewed data on financial health, standard of living and government services by state to determine how well each state is managed. Based on this data, the best-run state is Wyoming. The worst-run state is California.

Despite some of the obvious differences when comparing the states — rural areas, urban areas, industry (or lack thereof), natural resources, border states — 24/7 Wall St. said that states can do a great deal to control their fate.

So what is California doing wrong?

Let’s start with what is Wyoming doing right?

Wyoming
State debt per capita: $2,452 (18th lowest)
Pct. without health insurance: 14.9% (21st highest)
Pct. below poverty line: 10.3% (7th lowest)
Unemployment: 5.8% (6th lowest)

Wyoming comes in first place for the second year in a row, 24/7 reported that the state has high marks in many categories including high school graduation rate. 92.3% of state residents age 25 or older have at least a high school diploma — the highest rate in the country. The state also has the fourth lowest rate of violent crimes and the sixth lowest unemployment rate.

California
State debt per capita: $3,660 (21st highest)
Pct. without health insurance: 18.5% (8th highest)
Pct. below poverty line: 14.5% (tied for 21st highest)
Unemployment: 11.9% (2nd highest)

“California has moved down one slot on from last year to earn the title of the worst-run state in the country,” the study found. “In the fiscal year 2009, the state spent $430 billion, roughly 14% of all the money spent by states in that year. Compared to its revenue, the state spent too much — California had the 10th lowest revenue per person, and spent the 15th most per person.”

What a surprise. I am shocked.

“California is the only state in the country to be rated A-, the lowest rating ever given to a state by S&P. Despite the huge amount the state spends each year, conditions remain poor. California has the second-lowest percentage of adults with a high school diploma in the country, the second-highest foreclosure rate and is tied for the second highest unemployment rate in the U.S.”

 

Read the entire Best and Worst Run States in America — An Analysis Of All 50 – 24/7 Wall St.

FEB. 27, 2012